Movable support and latch for a simulated bowling pin



April 8, 1958 2 MOVABLE SUPPORT AND LATCH Filed Sept. 17, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. (/5766? 6 (4 J25 Tram 5m J. C. KOCI FOR A SIMULATED BOWLING PIN April 8, 1958 MOVABLE SUPPORT AND LATCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 17, 1957 INVENTOR.

W w M a m .v 4 a M email in which the simulat arrangement of parts to be United States Patent filice MOVABLE SUPPORT AND LATCH FOR A SIMULATED BOWLING PIN Jrry C. Koc'i, Barrington, lll., assignorto Chicago Coin Machine Company, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application September 17, 1957, Serial No. 684,457

7 Claims. '(Gl.'273--41) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a movable support and latch for a simulated bowling pin.

My invention is embodied in an amusement game aped bowling pin is supported above "the playing field in a latched vertical position and when released therefrom is moved into, a substantially hdrizofital'pos'ition.

It has "been the practice heretofore to provide in a simulated bowling game apparatus, a plurality of simulated bowling pins suspended above 'a playing board, the' playing board being provided with a plurality of roll-overswitches or the like. When such roll-over switch ls actua'ted bya gamepiece traveling over the game board 'it releases the bowling pin so that the latter may be raised to a position out of view of the player. The rollover switches were objectionable as it required positive contact thereof by a game piece before a simulated hit 'was achieved. The roll-over switches, being contained in openingsinthe playing board, were subject to becoming inoperative through "the collectioncf dirt or grit which found its wayfonto the playing board. This foreign substance was distributed into engagement with the rollover switches by the moving game piece. As such prior construction required a vast amount of service and maintenance, it resulted in considerable expense as well i as an objectionable arrangement of parts. The embodiment of my invention ina simulated bowling game overcomessuch objections.

An object of my invention is the provision in an apparatus of this character of a simulated bowling pin supported in latched vertical position above the playing field sition out of view of the player.

Still another object of my invention is in the provision in an apparatus of this character of an arrangement cm- A further object of my invention is the provision in an apparatus of this character of ameans whereby the initial movement of the simulated bowling pin will complete an electric circuit that will actuate a release mechanism permitting the pin to be moved to a hit or horizontal position.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of my invention, showing vides a stationary switch leaf 2,829,893 r Patented Apr. 8, 1958 shown) of a game cabinet (not shown).

One end of the plate 10 is provided with a vertical flange 12. Fixedly attached to this flange 12 by means of a screw 13 is an electromagnetic coil 14. A latch plate 15 is pivotally connected as at 16 to the coil 14. A spring 17 carried at one end by the flange 12 and connected as at 18 to the latch plate 15 normally holds such plate 15 in its operative position as shown in Figs. 1 through 4.

The opposite end of the mounting plate 10 is bifurcated as at 19. Vertically extending flanges 20 and 21 are provided by the plate 10 at either side of the bifurcation 19 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These flanges 20 and 21 are provided with corresponding diagonal slots 22.. Journalled in the slots 22 and adapted for movement therethrough is a switch actuating pin 23. This pin 23 is in engagement with a leaf spring 24 of a switch unit 25.

tion 19 as shown in Fig. 2. Such switch unit also procarried in a normal spaced relation with respect to the movable leaf spring 24. The above arrangement and its operation will be hereinafter made more apparent.

The mounting plate 10 is provided with an elongated center opening 2 Approximately midway between the ends of such opening 26 and on the longitudinal edges Pivotally carried by the pin 28 are a plates 29 and 30. These wing plates 29 and 30 are part of an inverted L-shaped supporting member 31.

32 and free ends of which are joined together by a pin 34. The wing plates 29 and as well as the integral legs 32 and 33 thereof are secured together in spaced relation by suitable spacers 29' and 32'.

Each of the wing plates 29 and 3t? are provided with like fingers 35 and 35'. These fingers 35 and 35 adapted to be engaged by the freeend of the latch plate 15 when the same is in its normal position by reason of the spring 17 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and 4. In such latched position, the wing plates 29 and 30 extend in a substantially parallel relation to legs 32 and 33 thereof extend downwardly and at right angles thereto.

A spring 36 has one end connected to the mounting plate It) as at 3'7 and its opposite end connected as at 33 to a stud 39 carried by and extending from the wing plate 29. When the wing plates 29 and 30 are latched as above described, the spring 36 is expanded. The purpose and function of such spring 36 will be hereinafter made apparent.

connected between these flange members 41 as at 41 is one end of a switch actuating rod 42. The opposite end of the switch actuating rod 42 extends through the bifurcation 19 of the mounting plate and is pivotally attached to the switch actuating pin 23 hereinbefore described. The operation of such switch actuating rod 42 and switch pin 23 will be hereinafter made apparent.

The free end of the pivotal extension plate 40 provides flanges 43 which extend in an opposite direction with respect to the flanges 41 as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3. Pivotally connected to the flange 43 by a pin 44 is one end of a bracket 45. This bracket 45 normally extends in a direction parallel to the pivotal extension plate 40 as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4. To retain the bracket 45 in such parallel position with respect to the pivotal extension plate 40, I provide a spring 46. This spring 46 has one end connected as at 47 to the pivotal extension plate 40 and its opposite end connected as at 48 to the bracket 45. Fixedly mounted to this bracket 45 by means of screws 49 is a simulated bowling pin 50.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the bowling pin 50 is pivotally suspended above the playing board 51 in a position to be engaged and pivoted by a game piece 52.

The initial position of the bowling pin 50 is that as shown in Fig.- 1. In such a position the latch plate is in engagement with the fingers 35 and 35' of the wing plates 29 and 30 of the support member 31. The movable leaf spring 24 is out of engagement with the stationary leaf spring 25' game piece such as the ball 52 is propelled over the playing board 51 in such a manner so as to engage the bowling pin 50, the bowling pin 50 will pivot about the pin 44 which is the pivotal connection between the bracket 45 which carries the pin 50 and the pivotal extension plate 40. Such initial pivotal movement of the pin 50 about the pin 44 will cause the spring 46 to be expanded as shown in Fig. 3. Due to the expansion of this spring 46, counter movement is imparted to the pivotal extension plate 40 causing such extension plate 40 to pivot about the pin 34. This pin 34 is the pivotal connection between the pivotal extension plate 40 and the depending legs 32 and 33 of the support member 31.

Such pivotal movement of the extension plate 40 will cause the switch actuating rod 42 to be moved in an upward direction as shown in Fig. 3. The movement of the switch actuating rod 42 will cause the switch actuating pin 23 to ride up the diagonal slots 22 of the flanges and 21 so as to cause the movable leaf spring 24 to come into contact with the stationary leaf spring of the switch unit 25. The closing of the switch unit 25 will energize the electromagnetic coil 14. The energization of the coil 14 will drive the latch plate 15 in a direction toward the coil 14 away from the fingers and 35 of the wing plates 29 and 30. When the support member 31 is thus released from the latch plate 15, the spring-36 will contract causing the wing plates 29 and 30 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction about the pin 28 to a position as shown in Fig. 4.

When the wing plates 29 and 30 are so pivoted in a counterclockwise direction about the pin 28, the legs 32 and 33 will be pivoted into a position parallel to the mounting plate 10 as viewed in Fig. 4. Such movement of the legs 32 and 33 will cause the simulated bowling pin 5G to assume the position shown in Fig. 4 where it also is in a parallel spaced apart position with respect to the mounting plate 10.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that upon the initial movement of the simulated bowling pin St? under the force of being struck by a game piece such as the ball 52, the switch unit 25 is closed thereby energizing and releasing the latch mechanism which maintains the bowling pin in its vertical position.

In order to regulate the amount of force required to initially pivot the s' ulated bowling pin 50 so as to of the switch unit 25. When a move the switch actuating rod 42, I provide a tensioning device which is operable upon such switch actuating rod 42. This tensioning device comprises a coil spring 53 which is coiled about a stud 54 carried by a flange 20. One end of the coil spring 53 engages the top edge portion of the flange 20 while the opposite end of such spring 53 engages the top end portion 55 of the switch actuating rod 42 as shown in Fig. 2. Such spring 53 is so arranged as to normally yieldably resist upward movement of the switch actuating rod 42 through pivotal action of the simulated pin 50. Such a device also prevents accidental actuation of the switch unit 25.

After the simulated bowling pin 50 has been struck by a game piece so that it is released from'its vertical latched position and has moved to its hit or horizontal position, it may be returned to its latched vertical position in any suitable manner. As such operation makes up no part of the present invention, none has been-shown, however such operation and parts therefor is well known in the art to which this invention pertains.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into efiect, this is capable of variation and modification without departingfrom the spir't of the invention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An improvement in a movable support and latch for a simulated bowling pin comprising a mounting plate for supporting a simulated bowling pin for pivotal movement from a vertical position to a horizontal position with respect to said mounting plate, an electromagnetic latching means carried by said mounting plate for releasably latching the bowling pin in its vertical position, a switch structure mounted on the mounting plate and having normally spaced apart contact members for controlling the energization of said electromagnetic latching means, an actuating arm pivotally connected to said bowling pin and adapted for movement therewith, a laterally extending pin on said arm at the end thereof opposite its pivotal connection to said bowling pin for engaging one of said switch contact members so as to move the same into contact with the other switch contact member upon initial movement of said bowling pin so as to energize said electromagnetic latching means to release said=bowling pin for pivotal movement from its vertical position to a horizontal position with respect to said mounting plate, and means for guiding the movement of said pin when it is moved by said arm to engage said one of said switch contact members so as to move the same into contact with said other switch contact member to energize said electromagnetic latching means to release said bowling pin for pivotal movement into a horizontal position with respect to said plate, said guide means including vertically extending flanges provided by said mounting plate adjacent the switch actuating members carried thereby, said flanges provided with diagonally extending slots through which a portion of said switch actuating pin is journaled for movement therethrough.

2. An improvement in a movable support and latch for a simulated bowling pin comprising a mounting plate, an element pivotally connected to said plate for movably supporting a simulated bowling pin for pivotal movement from a vertical position to a horizontal position with respect to said mounting plate, means carried by said supporting element for connecting said pin to said support for limited pivotal movementwith respect thereto, an electromagnetic latching means carried by said mounting plate and operatively connected to said supporting element for releasably latching said bowling pin in a vertical position, a switch structure mounted on the mounting plate and having normally spaced apart contact members for 3 5 controlling the energization of said electromagnetic latching means, an actuating arm pivotally'conne'cted to said bowling pin and adapted for movement therewith, a member on said arm at the end thereof opposite its connection to said bowling ,pin for engaging one switch contact members so as to move the same into contact with the other switch contact member upon pivotal movement of said bowling pin with respect to said supporting element so as to energize said electromagnetic latching means to release said supporting element and said bowling pin for pivotal movement from its vertical position to a horizontal position with respect to said mounting plate, and means for guiding the movement of said switch actuating member when it is moved by said arm to engage said one of said switch contact members so as to move the same into contact with said other switch contact member to energize said electromagnetic latching means to release said bowling pin for pivotal movement into a horizontal position with respect to said plate, said guide means including vertically extend ing flanges provided by said mounting plate, said flanges provided with diagonal slots therein through which a portion of said switch actuating member is journalled for movement therethrough, and means for yiel'dably resisting movement of said switch actuating member through said slots to prevent accidental actuation of said switch contact members.

3. A supporting structure for a simulated bowling pin comprising a mounting plate, a pair of members for supporting the pin *from the plate and for movement from a substantial vertical position to a substantial horizontal position with respect to said plate, electric means for releasably latching one of said members in a position to support the pin in a substantial vertical position, a switch control for said latching means, means for permitting initial movement of the other of said members relative to said mounting plate while said one of said members is held in latched position by said latching means, means providing a pivotal connection between corresponding ends of said members, means for pivotally connecting said first pivotal connecting means to said bowling pin, a spring means connected to said first mentioned pivotal connecting means and to said pin to permit said pin to have an initial pivotal movement relative to said first mentioned pivotal connecting means independent of the movement of said one of said members whereby to impart said initial pivotal movement to the other of said members, and means carried by said other of said members to engage said switch to close the same upon completion of the initial movement of said other members.

4. A supporting structure for a a substantial horizontal position with respect to said plate, electric means for releasably latching one of said members in a position to support the pin in a substantial vertical position, a switch control for said latching means, means for permitting initial movement of the other of said members relative to said mounting plate while said one of said members is held in latched position by said latching means, an elongated plate pivotally connected to an opposite end of one of said members and normally extending in a longitudinal direction with respect thereto, a pivotal connection between the said plate and the opposite corresponding end of said other member, means for pivotally connecting said elongated plate to said bowling pin, a sprin means connected to said plate and to said pin to permit 'said pin to have an initial pivotal movement relative to said plate independent of the movement of said one of said members whereby to impart said initial pivotal movement to the other of said members, and means carried by said other of said members to engage said switch to close the same upon completion of the initial movement of said other member.

5.- A supporting structure for a simulated bowling pin comprising a mounting plate,- a pair of members for supporting the pin from the plate and for movement from a substantial vertical position to a substantial horizontal position with respect to said plate, means for releasabl-ylatching one of said members in a position to in a substantial vertical position, a switch control for said latching means, means for permitting initial movement of the other of said members relative to said mounting plate while said one of said members is held in latched pivotal connecting means independent of the movement said members whereby to one of said members is held in latched position by said latching means, an elongated plate pivotally connected to an opposite end of one of said members and normally extending in a longitudinal direction with respect thereto, a pivotal connection between the said plate and the opposite corresponding end of said other member, means for pivotally to close the same upon ment of said other member.

7. A supporting structure 7 pin to have initial pivotal movement with respect to said one of said members independent of the movement of said one of said members whereby to impart the initial pivotal movement to said plate and to said other of said members so that said other of said members through its movable connection with said mounting plate will momentarily close said switch to energize said electromagnetic coil to actuate said movable member thereof References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Cohn Breitenstein Jan. 1, 1957 July 23, 1957 

